Safeguarding Matters with the Ann Craft Trust

Jodi Evans talks to former International Rugby Player Rhys Thomas about his life journey and the lessons he has learnt along the way.In the early 2000s, Rhys had a thriving international sports career as a capped Welsh rugby player. But in 2012, aged just 29, he suffered a massive heart attack during training, which would change his life forever. Rhys is now on a mission to share his unique life experiences to create positive change. He strives to help others reach their full potential t...

Nicola chats with Robbie Jacques, who plays for Nottingham Lions FC, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire’s only LGBTQ+ football team.The two discuss the rising acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities in professional and grassroots football. Robbie's recently received a nomination for the Positive Role Model Award for LGBT as part of the National Diversity Awards."I believe everyone should be comfortable doing what they love without fear of discrimination and abuse. I believe we have the potential to chang...

Nicola talks to Stuart Gallagher a Senior Lecturer at The University of Worcester, about a course he runs: a Post Graduate Certificate in Leading Culture Change in Safeguarding.She also chats with two students who have taken this course: Victoria Wiegleb from The English Cricket Board, and Kath Bennett from The Rugby Football Union.Stuart describes the course as "a course for people who are short on time. It's a flexible course for really busy safeguarding leaders. It respects your time, and ...

On Monday 20 March I had the exciting job of visiting the world famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottinghamshire to speak to Nottinghamshire Men’s Fast Bowler Luke Fletcher and coach Paul Franks, with one of the Ann Craft Trust Safeguarding in Sport Managers, Nicola Dean.As a cricket fan living in Nottingham, it’s hard not to know the history of Trent Bridge, one of the oldest cricket grounds in the world, or about the success of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. Nicola and I we...

University of Nottingham student Bridget Tunney is currently volunteering to help The Ann Craft Trust promote Safeguarding Adults Week.In this podcast, she introduces herself and discusses Rugby Minds, a University of Nottingham safeguarding in sport campaign.Rugby Minds aims to improve the welfare and culture in the university men’s and women’s rugby teams. Bridget and Nicola discuss this campaign, its aims, and its parallels with The Ann Craft Trust's #SaferCultureSaferSport campaign.

Peer support networks can make a huge difference in helping organisations achieve safeguarding best practice.In this edition of Safeguarding Matters, Nicola Dean talks to Cassi Wright, Head of Safeguarding at Crystal Palace FC, and Ashlee Byrne, Senior Safeguarding Officer for the British Horseracing Authority. They discuss the importance of peer support in safeguarding. They also offer some tips for anyone looking to set up their own peer support network. In short - reach out to p...

Nicola Dean and Kimberley Walsh reflect on how the #SaferCultureSaferSport campaign has progressed since its launch.Their discussion focuses on a recent seminar The Ann Craft Trust ran with Penny Briscoe OBE and Claire Cunningham of British Paralympic Association. In this seminar, they revealed how they embedded a values-based culture to make sport more accessible for everyone.Nicola and Kimberley talk about some of the key themes raised in the British Paralympic Association seminar, and expl...

Nicola Dean talks to Emma Gibson about her new role as Head of Safeguarding Adults in Sport at the Ann Craft Trust.Emma talks about her background in sport, and how it motivated her to work towards making sport and activity safe and accessible for everyone.The two then discuss some of the current challenges in safeguarding adults in sport, and how we're working together to meet these challenges.

Joane Pell chats with Paul Stephenson, a Senior Consultant at the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU).In May 2022, Paul hosted an online seminar as part of The Ann Craft Trust #SaferCultureSaferSport campaign: "From Recommendations to Action - Embedding Safeguarding Learning Into Practice."The seminar focused on two main areas. First, it explored how we can recognise safeguarding lessons in our organsiations. Next, it discussed how we can take these lessons one step further, and embed them ...

Outgoing Safeguarding Adults in Sport Manager (Wales) Ruth Ingram reflects on her time at The Ann Craft Trust.Ruth joined The Ann Craft Trust in January 2020. Just a few weeks later, the UK went into lockdown.In this farewell podcast, Ruth talks about the challenges of joining a new team on a remote basis, as well as some of the other challenges she faced in her role. But she also talks about her achievements, and on the general state of safeguarding adults in Wales.